GLOBAL HISTORY 12 – MR.JORDAN
UNIT 2 - Developments in the Cold War 1948-61
Worksheet #12 Assessing the Cold War
story
The period 1948-1961 certainly saw some major changes in the
Cold War - the death of Stalin and a new Soviet leader; the growth
of Communism in the Far East; the assertion of Soviet rule in
Eastern Europe; the increased use of espionage between the USA
and USSR; and the physical separation of east and west in Berlin.
Opinions
Historians have looked at the Cold War in many different ways over the
years. Here are some statements about the Cold War in the 1950s and
1960s from modern school textbooks:
A.“"Between 1949 and 1963, the Cold War developed with a series of
major crises."”
B.“"When Stalin died in 1953, there was a slight improvement in relations
between East and West, although problems still existed."”
C.“" Khrushchev's blustering vigour, his love of travel and of argument and
his willingness to take risks left their mark on these years."”
D.“"The wall not only divided Berlin. Over the following years, it became a
symbol of division - the division of Germany, the division of Europe, the
division of communist East and democratic West. The Communists
presented the wall as being a protective shell. The West presented it as a
prison wall."”
E. “"The Americans believed that it was their duty, and necessary to US
security, to resist the expansion of communism wherever it occurred.
During the 1960s, this led them to the brink of nuclear war."”
F.“" It soon became clear to the capitalist states that, despite co-existence,
Khrushchev was determined to show that communism could compete with,
and beat, the West."”
G.“"The Cold War was a mixture of a religious crusade in favour of one
ideology or the other and the most ruthless power politics."”
GLOBAL HISTORY 12 – MR.JORDAN
UNIT 2 - Developments in the Cold War 1948-61
WORKSHEET #12 Questions
Question
Review each statement below and in turn and think about what it is
claiming about the nature of the Cold War during these years. Then, using
what you’ve learned explain why you agree or disagree with the statement.
Answer
A. Suggests that the Cold War was a real war, only with a series of crises
(instead of a series of battles).
B. Suggests that Stalin was to blame for many Cold War tensions, for
example through his use of 'salami' tactics (the elimination of opposition to
Communism in eastern Europe piece by piece), and as a result of his
actions in Poland. Consequently the Cold War waned after his death in
1953.
C. Suggests that Khrushchev's actions and character were a cause of the
confrontations (eg the Kitchen debate and Cuba).
GLOBAL HISTORY 12 – MR.JORDAN
UNIT 2 - Developments in the Cold War 1948-61
D. Says that the Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War, but also
suggests that the Cold War was a result of mutual misunderstandings each side had its own take on what was happening (eg The Communists
presented the wall as being a protective shell. The West presented it as a
prison wall).
E. Suggests that the Cold War was the USA's fault, because it tried to
resist communism (eg Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Korea, NSC68, U2
incident).
F. Suggests that the Cold War was the result of the USSR's attempt to
defeat capitalism (eg Warsaw Pact, Hungary, Cuban missile bases).
G. Suggests that the Cold War was a war of ideas - a war of different
political religions (the ideological differences between America and Russia).